Machine for spinning helical springs



March 1934. Hi G. BRANDWEIN MACHINE FOR SPINNING HELICAL SPRINGS FiledMay 26, 1930 3 Sheets- Sheet 1 Qfiwan (a? HanrydBrandu/an 7 f fl y March27, 1934. H. s. BRANDWEIN 1,952,413

MACHINE FOR SPINNING HELICAL SPRINGS Filed May 26. 1930 '3 SheetsSheet 2March H. G. BRANDWEIN MACHINE FOR SPINNING HELICAL SPRINGS 3 Sh eets-Sheet :5

Filed May 26. 1930' Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES 1,952,413MACHINE FOR-SPINNING HELICAL SPRINGS Henry G. Brandwein,

Chicago, 111., assignor to A. Brandwein & 00., Chicago, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application May 26, 1930, Serial No; 455,766

6 Claims. (01. 140-3) The invention relates to improvements in machinesfor manufacturing mattress springs, and more particularly, it relates toimprovements in machines for interlocking coil springs or similararticles together by "means of helical springs or the like.

The invention contemplates generally the provision of actuatingmechanism for advancing and spinning helical springs into interlockingengagement with a plurality of members, such for example, as contiguousportions of adjacent spiral springs, and more particularly the inventioncontemplates an actuating mechanism which advances as the helicalsrotated thereby are ad-,

vanced. The invention is shown and described as embodied in a revolvingchuck and atrave'ling support or carriage for the chuck and itsactuating mechanism.

In carrying out the invention, one end of a helical spring is fixedlymounted in the chuck for the purpose of rotating the helical springabout its longitudinal axis, and. as a result of such rotation the freeor open end of the helical contacts with and is spun about objects lyingin its path. While the device has one of. its important applications inits adaptation to mattress construction wherein the open end of therotated helical spring engages and fastens together in cork, screwfashion, the contiguous portions of adjacent spiral springs lying in itspath, it is equally adapted for any operation involving the interlockingof similar contiguous articles by means of helicalsprings or the like.The inter locking of spiral springs by means of helical.

springs, has been accomplished heretofore in mattress construction bymanually spinning or wrapping the helicals about the spirals or, if donemechanically, the spinning operation has been accomplished by the use ofa stationary actuating mechanism. The use of a stationary mechanism forsuch a purpose requires either that the helical springs be fed with orthrough the actuating mechanism, or that the work about'which thehelicals are spun shall be moved towards the stationary mechanism, andan important object of the invention is the provision of improvedmechanism for rotating or spinning in cork screw fashion, a helicalspring into operative and holding engagement with a stationary object orobjects lying in the path of the rotated helical.

Another objectof the invention is the provisipn which the helicals forma part.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine forspinning helical springs into an assembled mattress spring constructionwherein the actuating mechanism and actuated helicals will be advancedor retracted together, the actuating mechanism being for this purposemounted on a carriage and movable upon a track or runway towards andaway from the stationary mattress construction.

A still further object of the invention is to generally improvemechanism for spinning or rotating helical-springs in the manner and forthe purpose described.

' Many other objects and advantages herein shown and described will beobvious to those skilled in the art from the description herein given.

To this end -my invention consists in the novel construction,arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, andmore par ticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts,

Fig. lis an elevational view of a device embodying the principles of myinvention;

Fig. 2 isa partial elevational and sectional view of-the device takenalong the line 2-2.of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa broken or fragmentaryview of the device and work shown inFig. 1, drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fi 3;

Fig. 5 is a. view along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 6 is a view along and I Figs. 7 and S are views along the lines '77and 8-8 of Fig. 4, drawn to a larger scale.

Referringnow to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates acarriage and an actuating 95 mechanism mounted on a track 11. A table 12is positioned at the forward end of the track 11 to provide a supportfor a mattress spring assembly comprising a plurality of spiral springs17 interlocked by helical springs 42. A plurality 01' legs 13 carry thetable 12 which has a hinged shelf 15 at the end adjacent the track 11.

The springs 17 are shown as arranged in longitudinal and transverse rowson the table 12. A 105 plurality of blocks 14 separate or form spacersfor the transverse rows of springs 17. The springs 85. the device shownin the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

17 are in closely spaced relation in the'transverse end coils of thesprings 17 are fastened together with helical springs 42, one of suchhelicals being positioned at the top and one at the bottom between thelongitudinal rows of springs 17 and preferably extending the full widthor length of the spring structure.

Themechanism 10 carries a helical spring 42 which is adapted to be spunor rotated into cork screw engagement with the contiguous portions ofthe end coils of the springs 17, as best shown in Fig. 3.

The initial assembly of the spring structure consists in arranging aplurality of spiral springs 17 in vertical position in a longitudinalrow adjacent the inclined shelf 15, as shown fragmentarily in Fig. 4.The same number of springs 17 are then positioned on the inclined shelf15 with their bottom end coils in contact with the corresponding endcoils of the vertical springs 17, as best shown in Fig. 6. The mechanism10 is then advanced, and operated in a manner hereafter de scribed, soas to bring the free end of the helical 42 into spinning engagement withthe lower end coils of the two adjacent rows of springs 17, therebyinterlocking the springs 17 in pairs as the mechanism 10 is advanced.This step in the process of assembly, results in each of the spiralsprings 17 in a vertical row being interlocked at its bottom end with acorresponding spring 17 in the inclined row. Upon completion of thespinning of the helical spring 42, the mechanism 10 is disengaged fromthe helical spring and returned to its starting position on the track11. The chuck 28 in advancing, contacts with the block 35 and theresulting pressure-compresses the spring 44, permitting the chuck torelease the helical spring 42 automatically. Another helical 42, intended to interlock the upper ends of the adjacent rows of spiralsprings 17, is then mounted in the mechanism 10. The track 11 is nextelevated to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, in order that thehelical 42 may operatively engage the top coils of the two adjacent rowsof springs. The shelf 15 is brought to its upright position, asindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6, inwhich position the top end coilsof the springs 17 carried by the shelf, contact with or are in closelyspaced relation with the corresponding coils-of the adjacent row ofvertical springs with which they'have already been connected at theirlower ends by the preceding operation. The mechanism 10 is againadvanced on the track 11, and spins the helical spring 42 about thecontiguous portions of the top coils of the two adjacent longitudinalrows of spiral springs 17, thereby completing the operation ofinterlocking the longitudinal row of vertical spiral springs 17, carriedon the table, with the longitudinal row of springs carried by the shelf15.

The spring structure thus far completed, is then shifted or moved overan amount equivalent to the width of a spring 17, thereby bringing theoutside longitudinal row of springs 17 to the position on the table 12previously occupied by the next adjacent row of spiral springs. A newsupply of spiral springs 17 is positioned on the shelf 15 in inclinedposition, the same being in turn fastened at the bottom and at the topby means of helical springs 42 in accordance with the steps alreadydescribed. This process of adding an additional row of spiral springs17.at one side and shifting the spring structure over thewidth of onerow is continued until the spring structure is of the desired size. Thesprings 1'7 of the longitudinal rows may be arranged in staggeredrelation with means the springs of the next adjacent row rather thanopposite thereto. With this arrangement the straight or outermostportion of the end coils of any one row of springs are in alignment withthe corresponding portion of the next adjacent row and the advancinghelical, thereby alternately engages the springs of the rows betweenwhich it is positioned.

The track 11, on which the mechanism 10 moves back and forth, comprisesa pair of rails 31 suitably fastened together at one end by a connectingplank 32 and at the other end by a plank 34. The end of the track 11opposite to the table 12 is supported by a pair of legs 20 suitablybraced by members 21. The track 11 is connected tothe legs 20 by a pivot19 and is supported at the other end by a system of levers and links,the operation of which is hereinafter more particularly described. Sincethe spinning of the helical springs 42 is performed alternately at thebottom and at the top of the spaces between the two longitudinal rows ofspiral springs 17, the track 11 is necessarily alternately shifted fromits full line position to its dotted line position, and vice versa, inorder that the helicals 42 may in turn be spun into holding engagementwith the top and the bottom end coils of the adjacent rows of spiralsprings 17.

The track 11' is raised and lowered by the operation of a foot lever 50,best shown in Fig. 2. The lever 50 is positioned adjacent the end of thetable 12 with which the track connects and is pivotally mounted at oneend upon a support 53.

An arm 55 is fixedly mounted upon and rotates a pivot rod 56 extendingthe length of the table 12 and journaled in the legs 13. One end of thearm 55 is connected to the foot lever 50 by a link 57. The other end ofthe arm 55 is connected with the free end of the track 11 by means of alink 58. The link 58 thereby provides a support for the 1 free end ofthe track 11, and by shifting the lever 50 the link is operable to raiseand lower the track. The position of the lever 50, shown in Fig. 2,corresponds with the full line position of the track 11, as shown inFig. 1. l

A member 51 mounted on one leg 13 of the table 12 provides a guide forthe foot lever 50. The weight of the track 11 holds the lever 50 in theposition shown in Fig. 2, in contact with the upper end of the guidemember 51. In elevating the track 11 to its dotted line position of Fig.1, the lever 50 is pressed downwardly to the bottom of the guide member51 where it engages and is held in position by a projection 52. Themovement of the lever 50 to the lower end of the guide member 51actuates the links 57 and 58 and the connecting arm 55, so as to movethe track 11 to its dotted line position of Fig. 1.

The elevated position of the track 11 is such as to align the end of thehelical spring 42 with the top end coils of the vertical springs 17 andthe advance of the mechanism 10 on the track 11, when in its dotted lineposition, causes the helical 42, carried thereby to spin about andoperatively engage the top end coils of the adjacent longitudinal rowsof springs 17.

The movement of the lever 50 to raise the track 11 also elevates orswings the shelf 15 about hinges '16 to its vertical dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 6 as hereinafter described. This movement of theshelf 15 into vertical position brings the row of inclined springs 17carried thereby into the vertical position shown in dotted lines in Fig.6 wherein the top coils are in contact with'the top coils of the nextadjacent row of springs. The 1 springs 1'7 are held in vertical positionby theelevated shelf until the helical 42 is spun into engagement withand bindsthe top end coils of the springs 17 together. The shelf 15 isthen lowered to its inclined position and is ready for the reception ofa new row of springs.

mThe swinging of the shelf 15 from its full line position in Fig. 6 toits dotted line position, and vice versa, is accomplished at the sametime and by the same operations as'are required for raising and loweringthe freeend of the track 11. For this purpose, the pivot rod 56 isprovided with a pair of crank arms 61' rotatable with the rod, andoperatively connected with the shelf 15 by means of a pair-of links 59.The links-59 are pivotally connected at their upper ends with eyebolts60 suitably fastened in the shelf 15 and at their lower ends arepivotally connected with the arms 59. The movement of the foot lever 50to elevate the track 11, rotates the pivot rod 56 and causes the links59 to lift the shelf 15 to its vertical position, and the track 11 toits dotted line position. The release of the lever 50 from its lowermostposition in the guide member 51 and its return to the upper end thereofwill permit the shelf 15 to return to its inclined full line positionand the track 11 to its lower full line position of Fig. 1. v

The carriage and actuating mechanism 10 includes a motor '30 suitablymounted on a frame 29. Supporting wheels 33 permit the carriage 10 tomove back and forth on the track 11. The motor is preferably operativelyconnected with the chuck 28'by means of a worm 22 mounted on the outerend of the motor shaft. A worm wheel 23 is mounted on a shaft 24 inmeshing engagement with the worm 22. A worm 25 is mounted on the shaft24 in meshing engagement with a worm wheel'26. A rotatable member 27 hasthe worm 26 fixedly mounted on one end and the other end of the memberisenlarged to form a chuck generally designated by the numeral 28. Thechuck 28 has a bore 62 and a pair of longitudinally extendingdiametrical recesses 63 arranged to form a plurality of clamping members64. The exterior surfaces of the clampingmembers 64 are inclinedoutwardly towards the end of the chuck. Each of the clamping members 64has a Fecess 66 forming a bending line for the members. A- band 65,encircling the clamping members 64, is normally forced towards the endof the chuck by a compression spring 44. In order that a helical 42 maybe mounted in the chuck, the band 65 is moved against the resistance ofthe spring 44 thereby permitting the clamping members 64 to spreadsuiiiciently to receive the helical. Upon insertion of the helical 42 inthe bore 62 and release of the band 65, the spring 44 will force theband outwardly and thereby press the members 64 into clamping engagementwith the-helical.

the chuck 28 has its other end extending through a pull block 35. Theblock is fastened to the connecting board 34 of the track 11 and has anaperture 39 through which the helical 42 projects, as best shown in Fig.7. A screw bolt 36, mounted in the upper end of the block 35, is held inthe position shown by means of the nut 3'7. The lower endof the bolt 36has a stem 38 projecting into the aperture 39 in contact with therotating helical 42 contained therein. Contact of the rotating helical42 with the stem 38 pulls the carriage and mechanism 10 forwardly on thetrack 11. The aperture 39 in the block 35 is so positioned as to bringthe helical 42 into alignment with the bottom end coils of the springs17 when the track 11 is in full line position of Fig. 1, and intoalignment with the top end coils of the springs 17 when the track 11 isin the dotted line position of Fig. 1.

A pair of conductors 46 connect the motor 30 with a source of electricalenergy. A switch 49 positionedon a supporting block 4'7, near the leg13, with which the foot. lever 50 is connected is operable to controlthe motor 30. The switch 49 is operated by a treadle 48 rotatablymounted in a pair of blocks, 47. The treadle preferably extends the fulllength of the table to enable the operative to control the motor 30 fromeither side of the table or from any intermediate point. The motor isinoperative for the horizontal position of the treadle 48, and theswitch mechanism 49 is such that tilting the forward end of the treadledownwardly starts the motor 30, and so rotates the helical 42, as tofeedthe helical into the spring structure and to advance the mechanism andcarriage 10 on the track 11. The resulting advance movement of thecarriage and mechanism 10 can be stoppedat any time by returning thetreadle to its horizontal position. The complete spinning of the helical42 into the spring assembly will bring the band into contact with theblock 35. The contact of the band65 with the block 35 automaticallyreleases the-helical 42 from the chuck by forcing the band rearwardlyagainst "the resistance of the spring 44, thereby permitting theclamping members 64 to spread sufl'iciently to release the helical 42.The mechanism 10 carrying the motor 30 can then be returned to theposition shown in Fig. 1 ready to receive another helical 42, theinitial return movement being preferably caused by pulling rearwardly onthe band 65 to prevent engagement of the member 64 with the helical 42.

In the event that the helical 42 does not properly engage the contiguousportions of the adjacent spiral springs 17, it will be desirable toretract the helical and themechanism 10 a short distance. Thisretraction is accomplished by the operative tilting or rotating thetreadle 48 in the opposite direction from the movement required'toadvance the mechanism. The extending of the treadle the full length ofthe table and its connection with a reversible motor in the mannerdescribed enables the operative to advance and to retract the helical asdesired from any position adjacent the table 12 on which the work islocated.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided novel mechanism operable tospin helical springs individually into operative engagement withvertical springs in mattress construction and that the driving andspinning mechanism is moved toward the work in such a way as to relievethe work from any pulloccasioned by'the advance of the helicals.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing fromthe spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement andcombination of parts-herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for fabricating spring assemblies comprising a tableproviding a support for a plurality of spring units arranged in rowswith portions of the units in one row closely spaced to correspondingportions of units in the other row, a carriage movable towards and awayfrom the table, a revolvable chuck mounted on the carriage for fixedlyholding a helical, mechanism on the carriage operable to rotate thechuck, a fixed member with which the helical has spinning engagementwhereby the helical is advanced by rotation of the chuck intointerlocking engagement with said adjacent unit portions, said fixedmember being in the path of said chuck and operating to release thehelical upon contact of the chuck with said fixed member.

2. Apparatus for fabricating spring assemblies comprising a tableproviding a support for a plurality'of spiral springs arranged inparallel rows with the lower end coils of the springs of one rowadjacent the corresponding portions of the springs of the other row, acarriage movable towards and away from the table along a pathsubstantially parallel to said rows, a revolvable chuck mounted on thecarriage for fixedly holding a helical, the axis of the chuck being insubstantial alignment with the adjacent portions of the springs of twoof said rows, mechanism on the carriage operable to rotate the chuck,and a fixed member with which the helical has spinning engagementwhereby said helical is advanced into interlocking engagement with saidadjacent portions of the springs with which it is in substantialalignment, said fixed member being in the path of said chuck andoperating to release the helical from the chuck upon contact of thechuck with said member.

3; Apparatus for fabricating spring assemblies comprising a table, aninclined shelf forming an extension of the table, means on the shelfproviding a support for a plurality of inclined spiral springs arrangedin a row with a portion of the end coils of said inclined springs insubstantial longitudinal alignment with the corresponding portions of aplurality of springs arranged in a parallel vertical row on the tableadjacent said shelf, a carriage movable in a path parallel to said rows,a revolvable chuckmounted on the carriage for fixedly holding a helical,the axis of rotation of said chuck being in substantial alignment withsaid substantially aligned portions of said rows of springs, mechanismon the 4. Apparatus for fabricating spring assemblies comprising atable, a hinged shelf forming an extension of the table, meansadjustable to support the shelf in both inclined and horizontalposition, means on the shelf providing .a, support, when the shelf isinclined, for a plurality of inclined spiral springs arranged in a rowwith a portion of the end coils of said inclined springs in substantiallongitudinal alignment with the corresponding portions of a plurality ofsprings arranged in a parallel vertical row on the table adjacent saidshelf, a carriage movable in a path parallel to said rows, a revolvablechuck mounted on the carriage for fixedly holding a helical, the axis ofrotation of said chuck being in substantial alignment with saidsubstantially aligned portions of said rows of springsrespectivelypositioned on the shelfand table, mechanism on the carriageoperable to rotate the chuck and helical spring, a fixed member withwhich the helical has spinning engagement whereby rotation of the chuckadvances the helical into interlocking engagement with said aligned'portions of said vertical and inclined rows of springs, said carriageand chuck being advanced with said helical, said fixed member being inthe path of said chuck and operating to release the helical from thechuck upon contact of the chuck with said member.

5. Apparatus for fabricating spring assemblies comprising a table, ahinged shelf forming an extension of the table, means adjustable tosupport the shelf in both inclined and horizontal position, means on theshelf providing a support, when the shelf is inclined, for a pluralityof inclined spiral springs arranged in a row with a portion of the endcoils of said inclined springs in substantial longitudinal alignmentwith the corresponding portions of a plurality of springs arranged in aparallel vertical row on the table adjacent said shelf, a trackextending parallel to said rows, a carriage mounted on the track, arevolvable chuck mounted on the carriage for fixedly holding a helical,the axis of rotation of said chuck being in alignment with saidsubstantially aligned portions of said rows of springs respectivelypositioned on the shelf and table, mechanism on the carriage operable torotate the chuck and helical spring, a fixed member with which thehelical has spinning engagement whereby rotation of the chuck advancesthe helical into interlocking engagement with said aligned portions ofsaid vertical and inclined rows of springs, said carriage and chuckbeing advanced with .said' helical, said fixed member being in the pathof said chuck and operating to release the helical from the chuck uponcontact of the chuck with said member, means operable to elevate theshelf to horizontal alignment with the table, and means operable toelevate the end of said track adjacent the table for the purposedescribed.

6. In a spring assembling mechanism, a frame having a horizontal,planiform upper surface, a row of spring positioning means alignedthereon, a second row of aligned spring positioning means mountedlaterally adjacent said first row and spaced therefrom a distancesufficient to position springs positioned thereon in lateraljuxtaposition, said second row of spring positioning means beingpivotally movable to separate the upper ends of springs mounted on saidsecond row of spring positioning means from springs mounted on saidfirst row of spring positioning means, the lower ends of said springsremaining in lateral juxtaposition.

HENRY G. BRANDWEIN.

